No fatalities

Aircraft Overruns Unimproved Mountain Airstrip After Late Touchdown

Wilson Bar, ID, United States

On July 6, 2009, a CESSNA 182M operated by KIRTLEY BARBEE was involved in an aviation accident near Wilson Bar, ID. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s misjudged approach that led to a long landing and his failure to execute a go-around when he realized that he overshot his intended point of landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft overran an unimproved mountain airstrip after touching down late, resulting in substantial damage and minor injuries to occupants.

Accident Overview

The pilot of the accident airplane first overflew the unimproved mountain airstrip to assess conditions for landing. During the overflight, the pilot observed the windsock, which appeared to indicate calm wind or a very slight tailwind. The pilot then initiated the landing approach.

Landing and Overrun

According to the pilot's account, the airplane did not make contact with the runway until it had traveled approximately two-thirds of the available landing distance. As a result, the airplane was unable to stop before reaching the end of the runway. The airplane then continued beyond the runway surface, entering rough terrain and colliding with trees.

Damage Assessment

The collision with terrain and trees caused substantial damage to the airplane. Post-accident examination identified structural damage to both wings and the fuselage. The occupants of the airplane received minor injuries.

Pilot Statement

In his statement, the pilot reported no known mechanical anomalies with the flight control systems. The pilot also noted that the left brake was functional and was applied during the landing roll.

Contributing factors

Landing distance — Not attained/maintainedDescent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedPilot